Anyone who attended either Boudin and Beer or the Carnivale du Vin gala earlier this month knows that Emeril Lagasse can throw a party. More importantly, he invites the right kind of people, the kind who will help him raise $2.2 million for children's charities.

Boudin and Beer, a laid-back party of sausage and drinks that appeals to the local crowd, took place on Friday, Nov. 2. Now in its second year, 3,000 people attended, twice as many as the first event. Roughly two thirds of the attendees were locals.

Things got serious the next night at the pricey eighth annual Carnivale du Vin auction and dinner. The sold-out event drew 600 high rollers. One of them, with a winning bid of $200,000, will get to spend their birthday in Cabo San Lucas hanging out with Lagasse and Sammy Hagar.